2010 Spring BIOLOGY 121-001
Bulletin Course Description A survey of the history of animal life focusing on major revolutions in design such as the Cambrian explosion, the Mesozoic radiation of dinosaurs, and the Cenozoic radiation of mammals. Exploration of three views of form: the Darwinian view which stresses function; the historicist view which emphasizes historical accident; and the structuralist view that form is mainly the result of fixed mathematical relationships. The different ways in which each view applies the comparative method. Instructor: McShea
(Instructor named in bulletin description above may not be current. For current instructor, see listing below.)
Title EVOLUTION OF ANIMAL FORM Department BIOLOGY Course Number 2010 Spring 121 Section Number 001 Primary Instructor McShea,Daniel W Prerequisites Prerequisite: Biology 25L.
Synopsis of course content
A survey of the history of animal life organized around three fundamentally different views of the evolution of form: the Darwinian view, which stresses function; the historicist view, which emphasizes historical accident; and the structuralist view that form is mainly the result of fixed mathematical relationships.
Textbooks
On the Origin of Species (Charles Darwin)
Wonderful Life (Stephen Jay Gould)
How the Leopard Changed Its Spots (Brian Goodwin)
Historical-biology textbook (changes from year to year)
Assignments
Three five-page papers, spaced over the term (plus rewrites)
Weekly ten-minutes quizzes
Other short assignments in section
Exams
No exams
Term Papers
See "Assignments"
Grade to be based on
Term papers
Quizzes
Section
Additional Information
The course is divided roughly into thirds, corresponding to the three major views we consider. For each third, we read a classic work by the view's major advocate -- Darwin for functionalism, Gould for historicism, and Goodwin for structuralism -- and then write a paper based on the book, lectures, and discussion in section. The papers are "thought papers," requiring careful reading and focused thinking.
